WE’RE HERE!
We’re so excited to be in Paris on our way to Normandy on Monday.
Traveling with YPC is like moving the troops. So many people, so many instruments, and boxes and boxes of everything necessary to make every trip successful. At 2:30 p.m. on Friday, selected YPC choristers began gathering at the 92nd Street Y to begin the process for their latest trip, this time to France for the Polyfollia Choral Music Showcase. The check-in process was set up like a bucket brigade. First Sophia checked the choristers’ passports. Kerry double-checked that every part of each chorister’s uniform had been packed. All pieces of luggage and every box were weighed to avoid any penalties, and after music binders were passed out and the bus loaded, YPC was on it’s way.
The flight from JFK to Paris was picture perfect. However, we were in for a surprise after we had picked up about half of our luggage. Oh no! Luggage handlers and air traffic controllers went on a sudden strike protesting job cuts. Some of our luggage was still on the plane, and the airport was locked down.
The dispute was resolved fairly quickly, and we arrived at our hotel to another surprise: waiting to greet us were two former choristers now living and working in Europe: Dena and Celeste!
Rehearsals for our Normandy concerts are going very well, and we’re all looking forward to sightseeing here in Paris tomorrow.
– Sheldon Ogbourne, Conducting Fellow
Photos by Christopher Hall